This year, the theme for Black History Month is "African Americans and the Arts." When discussing health, wellness, and well-being, art is an essential component for many people. Whether the medium is music, paint, literature, film, or any other forms of artistic expression, art allows people to express their emotions and find themselves in the art of others. It plays a role in helping break down stigma around mental health and treatment and it also brings joy into people's lives.
For some, creating art can be an expression of their own struggles with mental health or bringing to light the struggles that others might face. In his song "u," Kendrick Lamar puts his own experiences with depression and suicidal ideation into his music. Painter Malik Roberts created the "Blk & Blue" show at the ABXY Gallery and through his work demonstrates how PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges manifest within African American communities as a result of historical and environmental factors. In her memoir "Willow Weep for Me: A Black Woman's Journey Through Depression," Nana-Ama Danquah shares her experience with Postpartum Depression, its impacts on her life and relationships, and what it means to survive.
Creating art can be a powerful coping mechanism for some, the act of creation allowing healing to occur. But even if someone isn't comfortable creating themselves, the act of consuming art can be healing as well. It might be looking at or listening to art about mental health, like some of the examples above, but it could also be consuming any sort of art that brings joy into someone's life. A song or movie doesn't have to talk about mental health to lift the spirit and help create a sense of well-being.
Art also has the capacity to help break down stigma surrounding mental health without having to explicitly be about mental health. By incorporating characters who experience mental illness and real reactions to difficult life events, people are able to see pieces of themselves reflected back and understand they are not alone. Romance author Talia Hibbert incorporates real, well-rounded characters into her books, like "Take a Hint Dani Brown" who experience challenges with their mental health, but aren't defined by it. Even wildly popular movies like Ryan Coogler's "Black Panther" and "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" help destigmatize different experiences with grief and loss, showing that there is more than one way to cope with the challenges that people face.
While art can be a key component in mental health treatment, it is certainly not the only avenue people are able to utilize. Retriever Integrated Health can support Black and African American students through our free and confidential counseling services, as well as medical services. Students can connect to our services by calling (410) 455-2542 or scheduling an Initial Consultation appointment through the RetrieverCare portal. The Maryland Department of Health also has compiled a list of Mental Health Resources for the Black Community that students can access to support themselves and their families on their mental health journeys.
So as we celebrate African Americans in the arts this month, we also celebrate how the black community has embraced and utilized art as a way to speak to mental health and a healthy inner life.